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Exhibit to honor heroes in action

There is a place in the heart of Pauls Valley where superheroes fight wicked villains and alien creatures mingle with The Incredible Hulk and Ghost Rider. It is a hub where action figure enthusiasts from all over the world journey to pay homage to the imagination of designers and sculptors who mold plastic into the stuff of fantasy.

The Toy & Action Figure Museum will expand this week to include a new exhibit, based more on true events in world history and less on imagination. On Pearl Harbor Day, the museum will open free to the public to unveil a new room dedicated to the heroes of World War II.

"We've always had a military section in the museum, but we have a lot of veterans come through and we really wanted to honor them with the display,” said Kevin Stark, a toy designer and the museum's curator. It is the only accredited museum in the country dedicated to action figures.

The exhibit

Built by Stark, along with museum board member Mackey McClain and board President Ron Hatchell, the exhibit consists of scenes from World War II. On one side of the room, the Japanese theater depicts American soldiers storming a beach while Japanese soldiers defend the highland.